A Rocky Start for Xabi Alonso as Real Madrid Draw with Al-Hilal in His Debut
Real Madrid's Alonso Fails to Enjoy Premier Game: 1-1 Draw Against Al Hilal - Struggles in Initial Outing for Alonso
Attending the Club World Cup in Miami, Xabi Alonso's first match as Real Madrid's head coach presented a challenging debut. Despite the 43-year-old taking control just a month ago, disappointment loomed as Real Madrid settled for a 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal, with a penalty miss in stoppage time from Fede Valverde decisive.
Over 62,000 spectators, mainly Real supporters, witnessed the opening skirmish under the Hard Rock Stadium lights. An impressive counterattack performance culminated in Gonzalo Garcia scoring for Real Madrid in the 34th minute. Al-Hilal, featuring former Bayern Munich man Joao Cancelo, responded with a penalty from Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves in the 41st minute.
Al-Hilal reigned supreme for much of the game, forcing Real Madrid to rally after the break, with substitute Arda Gulerc striking the crossbar in the 46th minute. A debut of a different sort was happening on the opposing bench, with Simone Inzaghi leading Al-Hilal from Riyadh for the first time, following Inter Milan's 0:5 drubbing in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.
The main focus, however, was firmly on Alonso, who is eagerly anticipated to lead Real to more triumphs as the successor to Carlo Ancelotti. Despite a passionate performance on the sidelines, the Basque coach wasn’t entirely satisfied with the team's showing, as the squad continued to miss Germany international Antonio Rudiger due to a knee injury. Real Madrid's other group stage adversaries are Red Bull Salzburg and CF Pachuca of Mexico.
Alonso's First Lineup
The debut match presented a series of surprises, particularly in the lineup, with new signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen making their debuts, while Gonzalo García, an academy product, was given the chance to lead the team's attack, as Kylian Mbappé was out with illness.
Performance and Tactical Analysis
The team struggled for fluidity and coordination during the match, appearing somewhat disoriented and lacking in the level of compactness expected, though this may be explained by limited time to implement strategies under Alonso. Al Hilal exerted significant control over the first half, showcasing vulnerabilities in Real Madrid's defense, albeit the team adjusted to salvage a draw later on[1][5].
In summary, the debut match in the Club World Cup for Xabi Alonso as Real Madrid coach proved a rocky start to his tenure, with individual performances from young and new recruits offering hope, but a disjointed team display and a missed late penalty casting a shadow over victory[1][4][5].
Sources
[1] "Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso Endures Rocky Debut in Draw with Al-Hilal". BBC.com. June 19, 2025.
[4] "Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal: Lineup, Stats, and Analysis". Squawka. June 19, 2025.
[5] "A Rough Debut for Alonso, Real Madrid Draw with Al-Hilal". Football Espana. June 19, 2025.
The Commission might find interest in the progress made in Xabi Alonso's implementation of Real Madrid's common fisheries policy strategy, as he navigates his role as the football team's head coach. Despite his passionate performance on and off the pitch, Alonso's political leadership skills might also prove useful in negotiating with club partners, similar to how he showed tact and teamwork during his illustrious football career.
